Monday, October 4, 2010

Stress and Health go together like Bread and Butter

Stress and Health

Kind of like Bread and Butter.... They just seem to go together.

Last night I picked up my book by Dr. Caroline Leaf (Dr. Caroline Leaf is a brain and learning specialist from South Africa.) Her book is a "detox" manual that describes the anatomy of a thought and the influence it has over emotions and attitudes. The Mind Body Connection that has been proven scientifically! That is what I love hearing. Proof that most illness's are "in your head"..... but that doesn't make them less real. Sickness caused from an unhealthy thought life.

Scientific proof that Chronic Stress can also cause weight gain as well as Cardiovascular disease and many other diseases. Cardiovascular Disease (CVA) is still the NUMBER ONE KILLER for both Men and Women.

Balance: An illness can not be evaluated and treated without consideration of the "WHOLE PERSON"- Spiritual, Physical and Mental

Tough act for me as a Registered Nurse as I'm talking with patients. I would love to ask a patient when triaging symptoms "so, are you mad at someone... any unforgiveness in heart?" Ha.... I'd like to see my Health Care Organization add that into their triage protocols. Yet, I hear my patients express current stresses, disappointments... hopeless.... yet my scope of practice doesn't allow me to further the discussion. They don't need a Psychosocial referral they just need BALANCE.

Getting back to what I was reminded of in my reading last night was the relationship between stress and weight management (or lack of). It's the Holiday's! Ooo lala I love this time of year.

However:

"The holiday season can be a challenging time of year," said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "Being aware of stressors and taking steps towards managing them is essential to making the holiday season healthy. Neglecting them, on the other hand, can abate a person's well-being and overall health."

SOURCES OF HOLIDAY STRESS

It isn't coincidence that "flu season" is during the Holiday's. Yes, it's about change in weather... but Peoples immune systems are so OVERTAXED during this time of year it's pathetic.

SIDE NOTE:Flu Shot? Well, my Health Organization says .... absolutely get it. I'll leave that one alone since NO ONE asked ME. But, I will say the NUMBER ONE way to prevention for Flu season is to TAKE CARE OF YOU. Washing hands is all about NOT TOUCHING YOUR FACE, Eye's and especially the NOSE with hand's that have come in contact with the Flu Virus. DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE! Even though you've washed your hands a million times. Use a Kleenex to to your nose when it itches (and it does during the change in seasons).

"Basta" enough.... back again to what I was going to blog on

Stress and weight.

Stress during holidays and Weight Management

Stressful Holidays and putting on Weight

ahhhhhhh getting fat during the holidays and crying in the dressing room when your looking for a party dress.

Ok, here is how Stress causes weight gain - ****

In trying to keep this short and simple I've left out the detail: (google it, ok)

All Stress is rooted in Fear (remember I said only all emotions are rooted in either Fear or Love)

We all need some stress and our body has a natural way of reacting (healthy)

For instance, if out of the corner of your eye you saw something moving on the ground ... "it's a rattlesnake" your body reacts. Not that you've been struck with a bite and venom is causing the reaction. It's a reaction from your MIND processing eminent danger. Your body is reacting to the "emotional stress" of the situation.

Then when the snake is removed, your heart begins to slow down but still beats strongly, your blood sugar has risen, and your blood has rushes away from the stomach. Fats have been released into the blood stream. All a normal response and no harm to your body at this point. Your body has a natural "feedback loop" to accommodate for this response and to bring you back to a normal state.

The bodies "feedback loop system" is a part of the bodies "homeostasis" which in turn is a chemical and metabolic balance that your body needs to function properly. "The feedback loop" ensures your liver and kidneys filter and remove toxic waste from this event.

However, here is where the problem can begin

If your body stays under the constant barrage of negative stimulation (stress) then the toxic waste begins to build up causing illnesses.

You may begin to feel vague symptoms. You may not be sick enough to stay in bed, but you no longer wake up in the morning energized and motivated. You join the people - the vertically ill who walk around feeling as if something is not quite right and have multiple complaints. You go to the Doctors asking for test to find out what is wrong. You've develop vague aches and pains in places you never felt before, your memory slips... you've developed chronic health problems... and your now asking to see a specialist to find out what is wrong with you. Your getting mad at the Doctor and say "what's wrong with me, and don't tell me it's all in my head"

I see it every day. And it grieves me.

It's a cycle: The Mind (thoughts) causing body problems (illness, aches and pains) that affects the mind (thoughts and emotions)... around and around it goes.

Side Note: 20% of illness/disease are NOT rooted in thoughts, but Thoughts do affect 100% of all illness/disease's.

The "fear hormone" that is a neuropeptide ACTH. It's released by the pituitary gland.

Once again, these are needed hormones serve their purpose. But, if they are continually released in your system they begin to wreak havoc on your health, in body and mind.

ACTH triggers the adrenals to release corticosteroids. .

Cortisol causes blood sugar levels to rise and triglycerides and cholesterol to increase in the blood stream.

**** Causing the body to gain weight.

It also depletes the bones of vital minerals (osteoporosis) ... and your brain (dendrites) shrink and can all together die (dementia).

Proverbs 15:30

30A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

This verse it talking about our thought life!

Yada Yada Yada...... I'll stop now... I pray you get the point.

Ummmm you want to to say it again with me out loud!

B A L A N C E

Your Body, Mind an Spirit are CONNECTED and unless balanced these

you F A L L down and go boom and get hurt.

there, I said it in 3rd grader language.

That Cortisol hormone when "not in balance" is why people get the "Michelin tire" for a waist.

It's called "metabolic syndrome": (www.americanheart.org)

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include:

When you decide that your HEALTH is more important than your LOOKS.... You'll stick to changing your lifestyle. TRUE! Isn't it true that it takes a diagnosis of Diabetes or a tumor get people serious about their health.... when they think they may die they seek change.

About Me

Born in San Diego, CA into a large "Pentecostal" Sicilian Family. Raise by amazing Parents and had three Sisters. Married, blessed with three fabulous Children. Widowed and experienced going to college to earn a BSN In Nursing. Worked as a Registered Nurse while raising children as a Single Mom. Re-Married and blessed with a blended family of 6 adult kids and fourteen Brilliant Grandchildren. This blog of my personal journey for Health and Wellness is dedicated to my BIG FAMILY whom I love. As my Wise dearly departed Father would say "It's all about the Family".